Piggybacking from the Success of Apple & Other Smartphones

Aug. 5, 2009 4:30 PM ET

Smartphones have been the Apple of tech's eye ever since the iphone was conceived. Investors have various choices to participate in the success of Apple's iphone and other smartphones and handheld devices. Of course, investing in Apple itself is not a bad idea, but here are some other alternatives to consider to benefit from Apple's pin-action. Intel INTC (not much smaller than Apple in market cap) supplies the Nor flashchips embedded into the iphones. With 9.7 times more cash on hand than debt, Intel is in a good position going forward. They also hold iphone's updateable system software. Marvell Technology MRVL with over 300 times more cash than debt makes iphone's WiFi chips. Broadcom BRCM with zero debt makes the interface chip that interprets the movement of your fingers on the iphone's multitouch screen.Other manufacturers that produce chips for the iphone are: Taiwain Semiconductor TSM and United Microelectronic Corp. UMC. Both of which are also solid cash flow generators. There are also a few other key public companies that are involved in the design and manufacturing of hand-held components that have been participating in the tech rally. RF Micro Devices RFMD whose stock went from under $1 to over $5 since March designs radio frequency technology for wireless systems, cellphones, WLAN, cable television, broadband, aerospace and defense markets. Another maker of RF products is TriQuint Semiconductor TQNT, which makes modules for handsets, networks, and military systems. TQNT has enjoyed a 250% stock rise since March. Skyworks Solutions SWKS whose stock has tripled since January, produces analog & mixed signal semiconductors enabling wireless connectivity.